Colorado Voices

- AS ANOTHER YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME STORIES THAT HAVE CONNECTED COLORADANS THROUGHOUT 2024.

WE BELIEVE THAT STORIES CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S A FUN THROWBACK TO COLORADO'S GOLD PANNING ROOTS OR A LOOK INTO LGBTQ PRIDE IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

WE HOPE THAT BY SHARING THESE VOICES, WE CAN CREATE A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND CULTURES THAT MAKE COLORADO EXTRAORDINARY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THIS IS COLORADO VOICES: YOUR STORIES.

- IN PUEBLO, A FORMER GANG MEMBER AND PRISON INMATE HOPES KIDS WILL PICK UP A CHESS BOARD INSTEAD OF SOMETHING WORSE.

HE FOUNDED THE HARDKNOX CHESS CLUB.

IT OFFERS KIDS A SAFE SPACE TO SHARPEN THEIR MINDS, LEARN LIFE LESSONS, AND MAKE BETTER CHOICES, ONE STRATEGIC MOVE AT A TIME.

- I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT THE GAME OF LIFE IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE GAME OF CHESS.

IF YOU CAN THINK TWO, THREE STEPS AHEAD WITH RESPECT TO THE GAME OF LIFE, YOU'RE ALREADY TALKING YOURSELF OUT OF ACTING A FOOL BEFORE YOU EVEN KNOW IT.

MY DAD INTRODUCED MY BROTHER AND I AT A YOUNG AGE HOW TO PLAY CHESS.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS INCARCERATED IN PRISON THAT I PLAYED A LOT OF CHESS BECAUSE I WAS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

GROWING UP IN THE GANG CULTURE IN THE LATE '80S, EARLY '90S, I ACTUALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO GOING TO PRISON SIMPLY BECAUSE I HAD THOUGHT THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE LIKE I BELONG.

I'M NOT AN OG, BUT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GROWING UP AMONGST THEM.

I WAS INTRIGUED WITH THE--I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE LIFESTYLE, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S MORE OF A DEATH STYLE AS OPPOSED TO A LIFESTYLE, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE END RESULT.

THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ONLY IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN A 6X9 CELL 24 HOURS A DAY FOR ONLY 18 MONTHS.

I DID A LOT OF CHESS PLAYING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHILE I WAS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE LOCKED DOWN 24 HOURS A DAY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO THINK.

WE USED TO CREATE OUR OWN CHESS BOARDS, AND WE WOULD JUST HOLLER OUR NUMBERS AND ALPHABETS ACROSS FROM CELL TO CELL.

IT ENHANCES YOUR CRITICAL WAY OF THINKING.

AND IN DOING SO, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY PARADIGM AND ACTUALLY SEE LIFE FROM A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL.

I GUESS YOU COULD SAY HE WAS A HEAVY HITTER, TO SAY THE LEAST.

I HAD ASKED HIM, I SAID, "WHAT DO WE ALL CONSIDER PRISON TO BE?"

AND WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE ALL CONSIDER PRISON TO BE THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS.

AND SO, I ASKED HIM, I SAID, "HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DOCTOR, A DENTIST, A LAWYER, OR A JUDGE GO TO COLLEGE, OBTAIN THEIR DEGREE, SOLIDIFY THEIR POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY AS SUCH, ONLY TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE TO OBTAIN THE SAME DEGREE?

WHY SHOULD ANY OF US THAT GRADUATE FROM THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS?"

WHEN I GET OUT, I SAID, "I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND GET MY DEGREE.

AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR OLD STOMPING GROUNDS, WHICH IS HERE ON THE EAST SIDE, AND START UP MY OWN NONPROFIT, WORKING WITH AT-RISK YOUTH."

- AT FIRST, I WOULD COME MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE PIZZA.

BUT WHEN MARK SLOWLY STARTED TEACHING ME HOW TO GET BETTER AT CHESS, I STARTED GETTING GOOD AT IT, AND I STARTED BEATING MY OPPONENTS.

NOW IT REALLY HELPS ME TO THINK BEFORE MY ACTIONS.

BECAUSE I WOULD JUST DO STUFF, AND I WOULD GET IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL A LOT.

BUT IN CHESS YOU HAVE TO THINK WITH EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE.

AND JUST LIKE IN REAL LIFE, YOU HAVE TO THINK WITH EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, SAME EXACT THING.

- IF IT'S ANYTHING I'VE LEARNED THROUGHOUT LIFE, IT'S THAT THE ENEMY OF LOGIC IS EMOTION.

I'M STRIVING TO BREAK THEM OF THAT IMPULSIVITY.

- YOU CAN'T MOVE ANYWHERE.

IT'S GAME OVER.

- HUH?

- IT'S CHECKMATE.

IT'S GAME OVER.

[LAUGHING] - OKAY.

- I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S ABOUT IT.

IT'S JUST ADDICTING.

- IT JUST REALLY GIVES ME A STRONG FEELING.

I FEEL LIKE I'M REALLY GOOD AT EVERYTHING.

YEAH.

AND I'M GETTING SHARPER EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[WOMAN GASPS] - TRADITIONAL SCHOOLING TEACHES OUR YOUTH WHAT TO THINK AND WHAT TO BELIEVE.

WHEREAS, THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF HARDKNOX, WHAT I'M STRIVING TO DO IS TEACH THEM HOW TO THINK.

MY HOPE IS THAT THESE YOUNGSTERS CAN APPLY THAT SAME SENSE OF LOGIC WITH RESPECT TO THE GAME OF CHESS, TO THE GAME OF LIFE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - THINK LIKE A CHESS PLAYER, STING LIKE A BOXER.

FOR AN AURORA TEEN, BOXING IS MORE THAN A SPORT.

IT'S A WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE, TEST HIS DEDICATION, AND PASS ON KNOWLEDGE TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

EVEN A BROKEN HAND COULDN'T KEEP HIM OUT OF THE RING.

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING) [GRUNTING IN UNISON] - I WANT TO BE THE BEST.

I WANT TO BE SO GOOD THAT NO ONE HAS THE CHANCE TO SAY THAT THIS FIGHTER IS BETTER THAN ME, OR THIS FIGHTER.

BECAUSE BY THE TIME THEN THAT SOMEONE TRIES SPEAKING ABOUT IT, I'M ALREADY GOING TO SETTLE IT.

[GYM NOISES] I WAS REALLY YOUNG WHEN I FIRST STARTED.

FROM THERE, I JUST LOVED THE SPORT, AND I DIDN'T STOP.

I LIKE BEING PHYSICAL.

I LIKE HITTING.

I DID GROW UP A LOT JUST FIGHTING.

AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE DOING.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - I STARTED IN MY BACKYARD.

THERE USED TO BE KIDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WERE ALWAYS GETTING INTO TROUBLE.

THEY WOULD ALWAYS SEE ME TRAINING, RUNNING.

SO ONE DAY, I TOLD THEM, I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, MAN, JUST COME OVER TO MY HOUSE, BRING OUT SOME SHORTS AND SOME RUNNING SHOES, AND I'LL SHOW YOU GUYS HOW TO BOX."

THE REST IS HISTORY.

(MUSIC PLAYING) [BACKGROUND GYM NOISES] - IN GOLDEN GLOVES, I BROKE MY HAND IN THE FIRST FIGHT.

IT WAS A TOURNAMENT.

I HAD TO FIGHT THE NEXT DAY WITH IT.

I BROKE MY HAND IN THE THIRD ROUND.

IT WAS WITH A HOOK, A RIGHT HOOK.

AND WHEN I FELT IT, I WAS LIKE, "MAN..." IT WAS A PAIN.

I WAS READY TO QUIT, BUT SOME TIME PASSED, AND I WAS ALL RIGHT WITH IT.

I TRIED THROWING IT AGAIN, AND I WAS IN PAIN.

SO, I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE NEXT FIGHT WITHOUT MY RIGHT HAND.

AND I STILL WON.

EITHER WAY, I PUSHED THROUGH IT.

- FABIAN IS A STRONG KID.

HE'S ONLY 15.

HE JUST TURNED 15, BUT HE'S REALLY STRONG.

HE'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.

HE LISTENS A LOT.

HE'S PRETTY MUCH THE MOST DEDICATED KID I HAVE HERE.

HE'S HERE EVERY DAY AN HOUR EARLY.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, HE'S HERE WITH A BROKEN HAND, STILL WORKING.

- WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN THE WORDS THAT, "TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED."

IT'S NOT EVEN THAT, YOU KNOW?

I JUST FEEL LIKE IF I HELP OTHERS, THEN I'M GOING TO LEARN OFF OF IT, TOO.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE BEHIND ME THAT HAVE HELPED ME.

AND I FEEL LIKE IF I SEE A FIGHTER THAT NEEDS A LOT OF HELP, THEN I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND HELP THEM.

I HELP KIDS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT HELPS ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF.

AND I HOPE THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE ON BOXING.

BOXING IS A REALLY DANGEROUS SPORT.

AND IF YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE IN THE SPORT, THEN IT'S BEST TO DO SO.

[BACKGROUND GYM NOISES] - HAVING DIRECTION, KNOWING HOW TO STAY CONSISTENT, KNOWING HOW TO WORK HARD, KNOWING HOW TO HAVE DISCIPLINE, STUFF LIKE THAT.

I TEACH THEM TO HAVE DIRECTION IN LIFE AND KNOW WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, AND KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING EVERY DAY.

THAT'S MY PHILOSOPHY.

IT'S SHOWING THESE KIDS LIFE, HOW TO SUCCEED AT LIFE.

- STAN GURLEY, ALSO KNOWN AS GURLEY MAN, IS A MODERN-DAY PROSPECTOR.

HE'S ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS I HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET AND FEATURE THIS YEAR.

AND AS STAN SHOWS US, IT'S CLEAR THE GOLD INDUSTRY IN COLORADO IS STILL PANNING OUT NICELY.

- COME ON, BENSON.

GET UP, YOU.

ISN'T IT FUNNY THAT THE GOLD RUSH IN CALIFORNIA WAS IN 1849, EVERYBODY WENT RIGHT THROUGH HERE TO GO TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE GOLD RUSH, WHEN THERE'S JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE IN COLORADO.

I'M STAN GURLEY.

I'M WITH THE GPOC, THE GOLD PROSPECTORS OF COLORADO.

I GO BY STAN OR YOU CAN CALL ME GURLEY MAN.

OUR CLUB HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1974.

THIS IS OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

WE PUT ON THE STATE, WORLD, AND NATIONAL GOLD PANNING CHAMPIONS EVERY YEAR.

I GUESS I'M MORE OR LESS WHAT YOU WOULD CALL THE FACE OF THE CLUB.

WHEN I HAD SEEN THE GOLD IN MY PAN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I GOT HOOKED.

I LOVE DOING IT.

I LOVE BEING OUTDOORS.

BEING OUTDOORS IS MY FORTE.

WHEN WE GO OUT ON THE EXCURSION, WE WANT TO READ THE RIVER.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER SEEN CLEAR CREEK AT ALL, BECAUSE WHERE WE'RE AT IS USUALLY NOTHING BUT A SANDBAR.

UNDERNEATH THAT WATER, THERE'S A LOT OF ROCK.

(MUSIC PLAYING) AND THIS IS CALLED CLASSIFYING, GETTING THE LARGER ROCKS OUT.

[ROCKS TUMBLING] LIKE I SAID EARLIER, YOU CAN TAKE 100 PROSPECTORS AND PUT THEM IN A ROOM, ASK THEM TO SHOW YOU HOW TO PAN.

I GUARANTEE YOU'LL HAVE 100 DIFFERENT ANSWERS.

OKAY, WHAT YOU GOT TO DO FIRST, WHEN YOU SEE ME SHAKING IT, THAT'S STRATIFYING IT.

THAT'S LOOSENING UP WHAT DIRT'S IN THERE.

SO, IF IT'S A HEAVY DIRT, THEN THE GOLD AND THE HEAVY MATERIAL WILL FALL TO THE BOTTOM.

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND HERE IS WHAT WE CALL PLACER GOLD.

IT'S BEEN WASHED DOWN FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND IT'S PURE GOLD, NOTHING ELSE IN IT.

I BOASTED THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN SKUNKED HERE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE I MIGHT GET THAT WAY TODAY.

OUR CLUB, I ENJOY THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE HAVE.

EVERYBODY'S WILLING TO TEACH.

I PERSONALLY GO AROUND TO THE JUNIOR HIGH/HIGH SCHOOLS IN COLORADO SPRINGS AREA, AND I TEACH THE KIDS HOW TO PAN FOR GOLD.

THIS IS OUR HERITAGE.

THIS IS HOW THE UNITED STATES BECAME WHAT IT IS, BY THE GOLD.

THAT'S HOW THE WORLD WORKS, IS GOLD.

THERE ARE SEVEN FLAKES IN THERE.

DARLING, I'LL TELL YOU THIS RIGHT NOW, IN MY BELIEF, THERE'S MORE GOLD LEFT IN THIS WORLD, THAN THERE'S EVER BEEN FOUND.

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, LIGHTNING IN THE AIR.

GOLD'S IN THEM HILLS.

IT'S WAITING FOR ME THERE.

- EVERY ARTIST HAS THEIR MEDIUM.

IT MAY BE PAINTS, CLAY, OR GLASS.

BUT GARRISON GERARD WORKS IN SOUND.

THIS SUMMER, HE WAS PART OF A REVIVED ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM.

HE WORKED TO CAPTURE AND CREATE SOUNDSCAPES THAT TRANSPORT PEOPLE TO THE HEART OF THE NATIONAL PARK.

[INTERMITTENT SNAPPING SOUND] [SOUNDS OF NATURE] - THE MUSIC I MAKE IS NEVER GOING TO BE MORE BEAUTIFUL OR MORE COMPLEX THAN THE SOUNDS ALL AROUND US.

IT'S MORE THAT BEING IN THESE PLACES, BEING IN NATURAL SPACES, PUTS MY THINKING AND MY MIND IN A DIFFERENT MODE.

I'M HERE IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, WORKING HERE AS AN ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE.

OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND THE CABIN PROBABLY THINK THAT I'M CRAZY.

THEY SEE THIS PERSON OUT, WITH HEADPHONES ON, WANDERING WITH CABLES OVER ROCKS AND STUFF.

CAN'T YOU JUST PAINT THE SCENERY LIKE ALL THE NORMAL ARTISTS DO?

I USUALLY DON'T GO INTO A TRAIL WITH, "OH, I'M GOING FOR THIS SPECIFIC SOUND."

IT'S MORE JUST WALKING AROUND AND SEEING, "OK, WHAT SOUNDS DO I HEAR?"

[SOUNDS OF NATURE] - LISTENING IS HARD IN A WAY.

THERE ARE SO MANY SOUNDS AROUND US, EVEN OUT HERE, BUT AT HOME, IN CITIES.

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT AND CAN BE REALLY OVERWHELMING TO TAKE TIME AND TO HEAR ALL THOSE SOUNDS.

PEOPLE HAVE REALLY STRONG MEMORIES OF SOUND, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT--I DON'T KNOW, I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT AS MUCH AS WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT VISUAL BEAUTY OR SOMETHING.

IT WASN'T REALLY UNTIL I GOT TO COLLEGE THAT I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT COMPOSITION AS SOMETHING THAT I COULD DO.

AND SO, THROUGH COLLEGE, I BEGAN WRITING MORE PIECES.

AS I WORKED MORE, I BECAME AWARE OF PEOPLE DOING WORK WITH RECORDED SOUND.

AND I HAD ALWAYS LOVED BEING OUTDOORS.

I GREW UP AS A BOY SCOUT AND HIKING A LOT.

AND SO, IT JUST MADE A LOT OF NATURAL SENSE FOR ME TO BRING A RECORDER ALONG WITH ME AND TO RECORD THESE SOUNDS AND USE THEM IN MUSIC.

[CREEK BABBLING] SO THIS ISN'T PARTICULARLY DEEP, BUT I THINK IT'S DEEP ENOUGH TO GET SOME COOL HYDROPHONE RECORDINGS.

[AMPLIFIED CREEK BABBLING] YOU CAN PLAY IT LIKE A WHOLE PIECE, JUST MOVING AROUND AND JUST HEARING THE SOUNDS OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE RIVER AND STUFF.

[AMPLIFIED CREEK BABBLING] I THINK THAT IN TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN, AND TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR WHAT'S AROUND US, IT REALLY CHANGES HOW WE APPROACH EVERYTHING.

WHAT ARE THE SOUNDS THAT WE'RE MAKING?

HOW ARE WE A PART OF THE SOUNDSCAPE?

AND BEYOND LISTENING, I THINK IT REALLY STARTS TO BE A WAY THAT YOU BUILD CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS, BEYOND SOUND.

- A DRIVE ALONG I70 IN COLORADO WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH PLAINS, MOUNTAINS, AND CANYONS.

AND IT'S ALSO A TRIP BACK THROUGH TIME.

ONCE ENTIRELY UNDERWATER, COLORADO'S MOUNTAINS ARE TIME CAPSULES FROM MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO THAT, TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE, CAN BE READ LIKE A BOOK.

[WIND] - IF WE COULD GO BACK, LET'S SAY, 10 MILLION YEARS AGO, THE ROCKS THAT ARE FORMED IN THAT CLIFF BEHIND ME, WE WOULD BE UNDERNEATH THOSE ROCKS TODAY BECAUSE THAT IS AN EROSIONAL CLIFF.

AND SO, OVER THE LAST 10 MILLION YEARS OR SO, THE CLIFF HAS BEEN MOVING OFF TO THE NORTH BECAUSE OF EROSION.

- GEOLOGISTS TEND TO BE FAIRLY PATIENT BECAUSE A MILLION YEARS IS A BLINK OF AN EYE FOR A GEOLOGIST.

AND IT'S REALLY A FANTASTIC SCIENCE BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY A SCIENCE IN UNTO ITSELF.

IT'S AN AMALGAMATION OF ALL SCIENCES APPLIED TO A VERY COMPLEX SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE EARTH.

- WHAT'S IN THE BOOK CLIFFS BEHIND ME, QUITE AN INTERESTING FROM A GEOLOGIC HISTORY PERSPECTIVE, ARE A SERIES OF SANDSTONES THAT ARE VERY, VERY TABULAR, MEANING FLAT, LIKE PAGES OF A BOOK.

AND THERE ARE SHALES.

AND THE SANDSTONES THAT FORM THE CLIFFS, SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ANCIENT BEACH DEPOSITS.

BACK IN PROBABLY THE LATE 1800S OR EARLY 1900S, THE GEOLOGIC SURVEYS THAT WERE COMING THROUGH HERE MADE THE NOTATION THAT THOSE SANDSTONES AND SHALES LOOKED LIKE THE UPTURNED PAGES OF A BOOK.

AND OF COURSE, THE PAGES ARE VERY THICK, RESPECTIVELY.

BUT THAT'S WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM.

IF WE COULD BE HERE IN THIS SAME LOCATION ROUGHLY ABOUT 70 MILLION YEARS AGO, WE WOULD BE ACTUALLY UNDERWATER.

(MUSIC PLAYING) BACK IN WHAT'S CALLED THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD, THIS WHOLE PART OF COLORADO--IN FACT, THE WHOLE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION, WAS THE SITE OF A SHALLOW SEAWAY.

AND ALL OF THIS MANCOS SHALE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE WAS DEPOSITED AS SEA BOTTOM MUD.

AND SO, THE MANCOS SHALE, WHICH IS BY FAR THE THICKEST SEDIMENTARY ROCK UNIT IN THIS PART OF COLORADO--IT'S ABOUT 5,000 FEET THICK--REPRESENTS MILLIONS OF YEARS OF SEA BOTTOM MUD.

(MUSIC PLAYING) HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IT'S SEA BOTTOM MUD?

THE SHALE HAS A LOT OF FOSSILS IN IT.

AND THE FOSSILS ARE SQUID-LIKE ANIMALS, THERE ARE CLAMS, AND THERE ARE SHARKS' TEETH.

SO, THE SHALE INCLUDES A LOT OF FOSSILS INDICATIVE OF HOW THE ORIGINAL MUD WAS DEPOSITED.

- THE ROCKS ON THE TOP OF THE BOOK CLIFFS UP THERE ARE SANDSTONES THAT WE CALL SHORELINE OR OCEAN MARGIN-TYPE DEPOSITS.

AND SO, YOU HAVE DELTAS AND YOU HAVE BEACHES AND YOU HAVE INCISED CANYONS THAT GOT BACKFILLED WITH SAND.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE TOP OF THE BOOK CLIFFS.

BUT IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN ONCE.

THE REASON YOU HAVE LAYERS IS BECAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING CYCLICALLY.

- EVERYTHING GETS ERODED EVENTUALLY.

AND WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE SEEING THE EROSIONAL EDGE OF THEM.

YOU CAN BREAK A ROCK APART USING A PHYSICAL FORCE, OR YOU CAN JUST LET RAINWATER MIXED WITH OXYGEN AND CARBON DIOXIDE TO CHEMICALLY BREAK DOWN THE ROCK.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL WEATHERING.

EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE WALKING ON IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DESTROYED, SLOWLY.

- IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS BEGAN.

WHILE IT'S BECOME AN INCREASINGLY CONTENTIOUS, COMPLICATED, AND DRAWN-OUT CONFLICT, HERE AT HOME, THERE IS HOPE.

A BISTRO IN BOULDER, OWNED BY A PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI COUPLE, OFFERS REFUGE AND A PLACE FOR UNITY.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - GOOD FOOD CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

AND I LOVE THAT.

IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT, PEOPLE WOULD COME IN HERE AND JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.

BUT THEY ARE IN THE HEART OF BOULDER.

MY NAME IS MANAL JARRAR, AND I WAS BORN IN AKKA, ACRE, ISRAEL.

I AM PALESTINIAN FROM ISRAEL.

I THINK FOR ME, BEING PALESTINIAN FROM ISRAEL, YOU LEARN HOW TO ACCEPT DIVERSITY.

SO, YOU CARRY THAT WITH YOU.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL TAKE MY TOYS.

YOU GET TO A DEEP LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING MORE PEOPLE, OF PEACE WITH PEOPLE.

I WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.

SO, EAT IT, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE ANYTHING, BE QUIET.

IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF JEWISH PEOPLE COMING IN HERE, AND THEY FEEL THE SAME WAY, "OH, HI, MANAL!"

THEY GIVE ME A HUG BECAUSE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

I LOVE YOU TOO.

[SENDS KISSES] - THANK YOU.

- ALL RIGHT [SENDS KISSES] [LAUGHTER] I OPENED BACK IN 2009, AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS.

IT'S A FAMILY BUSINESS.

MY HUSBAND, SA'EB, HE HELPS ME ON THE WEEKEND AND SOMETIMES DURING THE WEEK.

SA'EB, KITCHEN.

IT TOOK ME THREE YEARS TO OPEN MY CAFE.

KIDS AT SCHOOL, THEY WOULD EAT MY CHILDREN'S LUNCHES, AND THEN THEY'D WANT TO BE FRIENDS, "OH, YOUR MOM, SHE'S A GOOD COOK," OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO, I STARTED DOING CATERING FOR FAMILIES.

IT'S ENCOURAGED ME, YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT JUST CAME TO ME, "OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN MY OWN RESTAURANT."

AND IT WAS JUST LIKE THAT, LIKE, A PURE MIND WITH NO IDEAS AT ALL.

YOU GO THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS.

YOU GO THROUGH, LIKE, GOOD DAYS, BAD DAYS, YOU KNOW, BUT I BUILT IT, AND I'M STILL HERE BECAUSE OF THE PASSION OF COOKING.

IT'S REWARDING THAT YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE LOVE YOUR FOOD.

IT'S FUN.

IT'S A SUCCESS THAT YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING AND PEOPLE LIKE IT.

AND FOR ME, I'M NOT COMPARING MYSELF WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S SUCCESS.

IT'S JUST THE COMPETITION BETWEEN ME AND MYSELF.

AND ALSO, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO TREAT ME-- BECAUSE I'M PALESTINIAN, TO TREAT ME, "OH, I FEEL BAD ABOUT..." YOU KNOW WHAT?

NO!

TREAT ME AS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMAN.

LOOK AT ME.

LOOK AT ME A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHICKEN SCHWARMA.

IF YOU DON'T EAT CHICKEN, YOU'RE GOING TO START EATING IT TODAY.

[LAUGHTER] WE'RE VERY FRIENDLY, PALESTINIANS, ISRAELIS.

WE'RE VERY FRIENDLY, TOO FRIENDLY.

[LAUGHING] WE ARE LIKE OCTOPUS.

WE'RE ALL OVER EACH OTHER.

MAYBE THIS RESTAURANT, WHY I BUILT IT UP, THE REASON TO EXPRESS MYSELF AND TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

BECAUSE THE BEST BUSINESSES IN THE WORLD, AS THIS BUSINESS, IT CAN START WITH A FRIENDSHIP.

- BYE, MANAL.

THANK YOU!

- LOVE YOU TOO!

THANK YOU!

- SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS CURRENTLY BANNED IN THE NAVAJO NATION.

BUT THAT COULD SOON CHANGE WITH A BILL NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION.

AT THIS SUMMER'S DIN PRIDE CELEBRATION, WHICH HAS FEATURED DRAG PERFORMERS SINCE 2017, ATTENDEES EXPRESS A COMMON HOPE, ACCEPTANCE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - DID I EVER THINK THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON TRIBAL LAND?

NO.

(MUSIC PLAYING) HELLO, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS NAVI HO.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, I DEFINITELY KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ME.

I WAS LIKE, "WHY AM I ATTRACTED TO GUYS?

SHOULDN'T I BE ATTRACTED TO WOMEN?"

IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO BE A GAY PERSON IN THE '80S AND '90S.

AND ESPECIALLY ON THE RESERVATION, IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

AND YOU WERE LOOKED AT AND DEGRADED BY YOUR OWN PEOPLE.

- THE GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW ARE HEARTBROKEN AND DEVASTATED-- - THERE WAS ONE TIME WHEN I WAS WATCHING RICKI LAKE WITH MY MOM, AND IT WAS ABOUT KIDS OPENING UP TO THEIR FAMILIES.

AND MY MOM LOOKED AT ME, SHE GOES, "IF YOU EVER CAME OUT GAY, I WOULD KILL MYSELF."

AND SO, AT 13, 14, AT THAT TIME, I WAS VERY SCARED THAT--I DIDN'T WANT MY MOM TO DIE JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE MYSELF.

SO, IT TOOK A WHILE TO REALLY FIND MY TRUE SELF.

- ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR SOME SHOW?

[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] (MUSIC PLAYING) [AUDIENCE CHEERING] IN THE NAVAJO TEACHINGS, THERE ARE FIVE GENDERS.

AND ONE OF THE GENDERS IS CALLED A TWO-SPIRIT, OR NDLEEH IS THE NAME.

AND IT'S BASICALLY AN UMBRELLA TERM OF HAVING BOTH ESSENCES OF THE MALE AND THE FEMALE SPIRIT.

MANY OF THE DIFFERENT TRIBES, THE TWO-SPIRIT PERSON WAS CONSIDERED A SHAMAN, WAS CONSIDERED A MEDICINE MAN OR MEDICINE WOMAN OR MEDICINE PERSON.

AND IT WAS THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD GO TO AND SAY, "I NEED ADVICE.

I NEED HELP."

AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT HELPED THEIR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT TO BRING BLESSING, TO BRING LOVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

CURRENTLY, HERE ON NAVAJO NATION, THERE IS A LAW THAT FORBIDS SAME-SEX MARRIAGES.

WE DID GET A LOT OF HATE FOR HAVING THIS EVENT.

BECAUSE OF THE THREATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WERE HAPPENING, I WAS LIKE, "I WONDER IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HERE."

BUT WE HAD THE POLICE HERE TO HELP US.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY FELT SAFE ENOUGH TO COME OUT, JUST LIKE WE DO.

JUST TO SEE THE CROWD WAS AMAZING.

THE KIDS!

OH, MY GOD, THE KIDS.

I JUST SAW NOTHING BUT HAPPINESS, LOVE, AND JUST JOY.

I'M JUST HOPING THAT THE NAVAJO NATION WILL LOOK IN YOUR TRADITION, LOOK IN YOUR CULTURE OF WHO WE ARE.

IT'S THERE.

IT'S WRITTEN.

WE ARE NOT JUST DOING THIS FOR FUN.

IT'S DOING THIS TO HELP OUR FAMILIES, HELP OUR FRIENDS, HELP OUR LOVERS.

SO, TREAT US EQUALLY, LIKE YOU TREAT EVERYBODY ELSE.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN I GOT INTO COLLEGE, I CAME TO TERMS WITH MYSELF, AND I SAID, "I'M A GAY PERSON."

AND SO, I TOOK MY MOM TO HER FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT, AND I LET HER ORDER ANYTHING ON THE MENU.

AND I JUST SAID, "HEY, MOM.

I'M GAY."

AND SHE WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED.

SHE WAS A LITTLE UPSET.

BUT SHE GOES, "I WILL LOVE YOU REGARDLESS.

I LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.

AND I WOULD EMBRACE YOU."

- THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AS WE STRIVE TO CONNECT COLORADANS ALL AROUND THE STATE.

YOU CAN SEE THESE STORIES AND SO MANY MORE ON WWW.RMPBS.ORG.

(MUSIC PLAYING)